One North American rodent has had more influence on politics, economics, international relations and nation-building than any other of its kind.
Its work ethic is second to none. Its hydro-engineering skills match those of the Army Corps of Engineers. As a swimmer, it is in the league of Olympians. It can outsmart any landowner who tries to evict him.
Who is this super-creature? It’s the American beaver.
Doesn’t this start out with a bang? This article by Valerie Blaine ran recently in the Illinois Daily Herald. I read it with wide eyes and wrote her enthusiastically thinking we might have found our media ally to help save the Lincoln Park Beavers. She was appreciative of my praise, but noncommittal around the Lincoln Park Issue. I read statements like, ‘I have to maintain my neutrality, can’t get involved, beavers in urban areas cause problems, blah blah blah’.
sigh.
Ahh Valerie. You were this close. You were a beaver advocate ‘manque’. In case some readers were absent that day, manque is a french word from the root of manquer which means ‘to miss’. It is used to refer to someone that missed out in life, missed their calling, missed their potential, missed a golden opportunity. I offer it for a reason. Valerie you could have turned your very interesting read into something powerful that made a difference for beavers all over your state, improving the lives of all the wildlife who depend on their wetlands. Instead you sang some of their praises, repeated their well-worn problems, and stopped your doxology with a sock.
You coulda been a contender…
Punch line of this sad, familiar story? Her last email to me mentioned that in addition to writing and naturalist work she also traps beaver for a living.
